'American Idiot' musical star fired over 'menstruation joke'

Australian performer Linden Furnell has been fired from his role in Green Day rock opera American Idiot over a comment he allegedly made to a female co-star.

The Blue Mountains-based actor was due to play Johnny in the show which opens in Melbourne this week.

The Shake & Stir theatre company released a statement last night confirming Mr Furnell’s dismissal from the role.

Linden Furnell has been fired from the role of Johnny in the Green Day musical, American Idiot. (Aussie Theatre) ()Mr Furnell was set to perform the role of Johnny in the show. (American Idiot AU Instagram) ()

“Mr Furnell’s dismissal was a consequence of breaching the company’s ‘Statement of Zero Tolerance to Inappropriate Behaviour’ previously communicated to him and all other company members by company management,” the statement said.

The actor took to social media to explain his alleged behaviour.

While he accepted his wrongdoing, Mr Furnell said he wasn’t happy at not being given a chance to explain himself.

“The producers had a knee-jerk reaction, probably as a form of damage control/prevention and I found myself fired without so much of a conversation.”

The performer acknowledged he made his colleague uncomfortable with a comment while the pair were onstage.

“Some off-mic character banter takes place between us in the background,” he wrote.

“One night I wasn’t careful and made a mistake. It was a particularly hot night in an old theatre without aircon and we were both comically sweaty.

The rock opera was set to star Mr Furnell (right), and premiere at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre. (Aussie Theatre) ()Mr Furnell took to his official Facebook page, which has nearly 1000 followers, to address the allegations. (Facebook) ()

“Without thought I made a crude allusion to menstruation amongst the banter. It was in poor taste and a lame attempt at humour.

“The kind of thing you say to make your friends go ‘eugh gross’”.

Mr Furnell said he apologised over text message to his colleague, but she had already told management.

American Idiot features the music of popular punk bank Green Day, and made its Broadway premier in 2010.

Green Day formed in 1986, and have won five Grammy Awards over the course of their career. (Getty Images) ()

It has since toured across the United States and internationally.

The musical will open in Melbourne at the Comedy Theatre tomorrow night.